ARC of Innovation to host open forum
By Angela Greiner Contributing Writer

Region - The ARC of Innovation, 495 Metrowest Corridor Partnership, is inviting community member to a regional forum to meet the Patrick-Murray Cabinet. The event, hosted by Intel Corporation in Hudson Wednesday Nov. 15, will feature Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles.

Paul Matthews, executive director of the partnership, said the forum will give the organization an opportunity to present an overview of concerns and then participate in an open forum with Bowles.

"Secretary Bowles is the first state secretary in the nation to have jurisdiction on both environmental and energy policies," Matthews said.

That gives him oversight of several organizations including the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Public Utilities, Department of Energy Resources, and the Mass Water Resource Authority, Matthews added.

The nonprofit organization plans to discuss energy and environmental programs, including water resources, renewable energy, open space preservation, energy pricing, the commonwealth capital plan and Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.

Work on water resources is one of the key concerns that Matthews hopes to address with Bowles, he said. The growth of the Metrowest area has placed a significant impact on the supply of water. He said he hopes to discuss topics such as reusing water through enhancing the wastewater treatment plants.

Members of the communities along the Metrowest corridor are encouraged to attend the meeting and meet the new secretary. To reserve a place at the forum, which will begin promptly at 9 a.m., contact Elisa at elisa@arc-of-in- novation.org or call 774-760-0495, ext. 100. For more information about the ARC of Innovation, visit the Web site at www.arc-ofinnovation. org.